Sheffield United: Clough calls for greater protection

Nigel Clough, the Sheffield United manager, has called for authorities to take the potential threats footballers face during post-match pitch invasions more seriously, writes James Shield.

Clough issued the comment after confirming that no member of his squad was hurt when Swindon Town supporters raced onto the pitch to celebrate their team’s victory in the League One play-off semi-finals.

Twenty-four hours earlier, Chesterfield’s Ian Evatt alleged he had been attacked by a Preston North End fan following the visitors’ defeat at Deepdale.

Despite refusing to point the finger of blame - “nothing untoward happened regarding the lads” - Clough said: “I would have thought that, after what happened on Sunday, then something could have been done.

“It’s a fallacy that you can’t stop people coming on the pitch. You just put police around the edge of it. Simple.

“Hopefully the FA will look into all of that.”

Meanwhile, Michael Doyle has urged Coventry City to offer him a contract after leaving Bramall Lane.

Doyle elected to announce his own departure - ahead of the official publication of United’s retained and released list - earlier this week.

Doyle, who joined United from City in 2011, said: “Coventry are going to make a big statement if they get Tony Mowbray as their manager because I don’t think he’d agree to go back there without them giving it a proper go to get out of this division. He’s always been pretty successful.

“I don’t want to go somewhere for the sake of playing football, I want to get out of whatever division I am in.”